Irian Jaya - Papua Trekking Expeditions
The province of Irian Jaya or Papua stand at the eastern most part of Indonesia - next to Papua New Guinea. Irian Jaya (Papua) is Indonesia has been known of its famous Dani tribesmen inhabiting the Baliem Valley, the Asmat tribesmen with their unique wood carvings, rare and spectacular flora and fauna and Glacier Mountains. Irian (Papua) is also renowned of its primitive way of life, especially at the southern coast and the remote highlands.
Besides all above, Irian (Papua) with 414.800 square kilometers or over 20 percent of Indonesia's total land area, owns 228,000 sea miles of fine beaches. Never compare to Kuta Beach in Bali! So you do not have to wonder why Irian Jaya also owns the most spectacular sea gardens in the world.
Its tropical rain forest and jungles are known to be very wild and impenetrable. Puncak Jaya or the so - called Carstenz Peak, one of the tallest peaks in the island, covered by everlasting snow and surrounded by Lorentz Reserve which is the largest conservation area in Indonesia, covering some 21.500 square kilometers (8.300 square miles).
World War II remains during the Pacific war spread through the island of Irian Jaya and beyond. Frequently Japanese and rarely American Veterans make memorials trip to Biak, Numfor, Manokwari, Sorong, Sarmi, and Jayapura. Tank ruins, landing ships and war memorial statues are common sight in those historical areas.
IRIAN JAYA is the western half of New Guinea. It became part of Indonesia in 1963 when it was acquired from the Dutch and is Indonesia’s largest Province. It is 421.981 square km, mainly jungle. PAPUA is the other name for Irian Jaya and it is administratively dedicated by Indonesian Government in year 2002 for the indigenous people in the island. This Eastern Province is part of one of the world‘s last frontiers and almost totally covered in tropical rainforest.
Habema This area is essential keeping the reach of natural sources which refers to its character. The world has known its name through out the expeditors and scientists who have made a foot steps on this island for some periods while the most famous tribes for Irian Jaya such as Asmat with outstanding for its wooden crafts, Dani people in Baliem Valley with its incredible stone age cultural heritage, Koroway people with their jungle isolated life, and Yali highlanders in its traditional cultures.
The population of this province is about 3 (three) millions and 10 percents live in central highland around Baliem valley as the home for ancient tribes of the Dani, Lani, and Yali.
The temperature in the highland can be very hot at the day time which sometimes reach to 27 Celsius degrees but may drop quickly at night to 14-15 Celsius degrees. While down in the lowland, the humidity might reach to 85% and yet the temperature doesn’t seem cooler at night. The rain fall is high which averagely about 1,000 cm per annum - therefore this region possesses some of Indonesia’s largest rivers.
FLORA AND FAUNA
snake of irianjayaPapua island’s wildlife is possibly the most interesting in the world and yet the least known, lets visited or researched now. Because there are over 2.500 species of orchid including hundreds of species that are of medical importance. Irian Jaya or Papua is approximately half of New Guinea island and therefore many of its animal and plants have evolved totally in isolation and it hasn’t been invaded by other species from Asia or other parts of the world. They aren’t any monkeys or at least none have been seen but an animal has evolved that can climb trees and can live of their fruits and leaves. Incredibly this creature is a kangaroo.
Papua OrchidAlthough it retains big feet and a long snout it has a winding, Pink, prehensile tail and with this is able to lumber about through the treetops. About 650 different kinds of birds live in Papua and some 450 are totally native to this island. The Victoria crowned pigeon , the world’s largest pigeon is a brilliant lavender with a delicate crown of feathers and bright red eyes. Parrots, Cockatoo, and Lories brighten up the forest with their red, yellow, and purple colors. Papua is also home to some very strange birds as well. The mega pods or brush turkeys, which bury their eggs in sand or piles of vegetation are found here.
15 DAYS – 14 NIGHTS
Baliem Valley and Tree House Tribe Trekking Expedition
Start / Finish: Jayapura airport
Tour Code: KNLR-BVITE-15D
Departure: Daily
Grade: Hard Expedition
DAY 01: JAYAPURA ARRIVAL WAMENA (B, L, D)
Arrive at Sentani airport of Jayapura, you will be met by our local guide, then catch Trigana flight to Wamena.. Upon arrival at Wamena airport, transfer to Baliem Pilamo hotel for a short briefing by guide about the tour and trekking. After lunch, touring around Wamena town and market and villages surrounding. Afternoon back to hotel for dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 02: WAMENA - KURIMA - KILISE (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel, then by car to Kurima then trek to Kilise, Today we hike up and down, the trail is steep and could be very sleepery if it is rains. The first 2 hours hike to the village of Kilise is through the steep sweet potato garden near the Baliem River, but the scenery is spectacular. In Kilise village we explore the village nearby and visit their local houses. Our accommodation is at a local traditional guesthouse.
DAY 03. KILISE – TANGMA (B, L, D)
Afetr Breakfast we do trekkking up the hills and walking through the Dani gardens to get to Tangma village, another 1.5 hours trek through a small forest down to Tangma village. Explore the village and its community. Provided lunch serve at the teacher house where we overnight stay. The rest is the day is spending to explore and experience more about the local people daily life activities.
DAY 04. TANGMA – WANEM (B, L, D)
From Tangma from bottom of small valley. We hike about 2.5 hours up to the village of Wanem and enjoy the beautiful panoramic of the baliem gorge. Arrive in Wanem, lunch will be provided by our cook while we walk to the houses closed by to the compound. Afternoon we walk around about an hour to another village and view more of the Dani daily life activities. Dinner and overnight at the local house.
DAY 05: WANEM - KURIMA - JIWIKA (B, L, D)
From Wanem village in the southern of Baliem Gorge, we hike down 1.5 hours to Kurima. The still traditional Dani village are very close and can be briefly explore during the hike to Kurima. The local people life and tradition remain unchanged here, and the sophisticate agriculture system has been practiced along time ago. Arrive in Kurima by noon; we drive 1.5 hours to Jiwika in the north of the valley via the town of Wamena. Lunch at a local restaurant in the town, afternoon we may walk and visit the Dani villages near Jiwika, including the 250 years old mummy at sumpaima village and view the Dani Pig feast and dance in the village of Anemoigi. Accomodation at Lauk Inn (a very basic tourist accommodation).
DAY 06: JIWIKA PIG FEAST - WAMENA ( B, L, D)
After breakfast we hike 1 hour up to Iluerainma to see the Dani make salt by soak banan stalks into the brines pool, dry and carry them home. Lunch today is in the village of Anemoigi where we can view the Dani Mock battle and Pig feast. We will see how the Dani make fire traditionally, kill a pig with bow and arrow and cook them into the hot-burned stone with vegetable and sweet potatoes. Late afternoon we drive 40 minutes back to wamena, dinner at local restaurant in town, accommodation at Baliem Pilamo hotel.
DAY 07. WAMENA – YANIRUMA (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel, on it’s time transfer to Wamena airport to catch the charter flight to Yaniruma for 1 hour. (Yaniruma is the starting point to see the Koroway tribe). Upon arrival walk out to the Mission house for our accommodation. Today is the time to arrange everything before we start our adventure, porters and canoe. After lunch walk around the village and swim to the river. Dinner and stay at Mission house.
DAY 08. YANIRUMA – KOROWAY (B, L, D)
Breakfast, preparing all the stuff and walking to the Sokom river on board the local paddle canoe to cross the Backing Dairam river. Start our adventure by walking through the dense jungle, swampy, and we sometime walking up the single log. Our porter will free their hand to help you in the hard or difficult trail. After 4-5 hours walking we arrive the first Koroway camp (where some Koroway tribes life). The Koroway tribes live in the jungle only with their family or relatives, as they never stay in one big compound. We can found 2 or 3 Tree house in one camp only. Caused they are nomad peoples and they never life for such a long time in the one places, they have to moved to one and another places to get more food and animals to be hunt. We will stay with Koroway in their bevak or we build a tent or up the tree house if permitted.
DAY 09. KOROWAY (B, L, D)
Breakfast, today we will join with Koroway tribe to their Sago field to gathering the Palm tree and process for their main food. Lunch will be providing by boxes in the jungle. Walking to the deeper to explore the tribes and vicinity. Late afternoon return to our camp for dinner and stay overnight.
DAY 10. KOROWAY (B, L, D)
Breakfast, we moved to find another Koroway camp by walking to the deeper jungle. In this, we deal through our translator with Koroway tribe to show us how to build their tree house and to find the fish in the small river. Lunch will serve by boxes. Dinner and stay at Bevak or tent.
DAY 11. KOROWAY (B, L, D)
Breakfast; today remind with korowai tribes to ho for hunt make a traps for Pig or Cassuary, etc. lunch will be provided, late afternoon return to your accommodations.
DAY 12. KOROWAY – YANIRUMA (B, L, D)
Breakfast; walking back to Yaniruma for about 5-6 hours, lunch will serve by boxes en route. Before we arrive in Yaniruma we will stop at the river for a fresh swim and clean up our body from the muddy. Afternoon arrive in Yaniruma, dinner and stay at Mission house.
DAY 13. YANIRUMA – WAMENA (B, L, D)
Breakfast, walking to the airstrip at Yaniruma, then fly on charter mission flight to Wamena on it’s time, upon arrival transfer to Baliem Pilamo hotel for check in, after lunch at hotel, free program or you may walking around the town. Dinner and stay at hotel.
DAY 14. WAMENA – JAYAPURA (B, L, D)
Today you will fly to Jayapura on Trigana flight, arrive in Sentani air port and touring the city. You will visit Mc. Arthur Monument of WW II up hill of Ifar Gunung then drive down to Sentani lake where you take a boat to visit the village of Assey. After lunch at Youqwa restaurant in the side of the lake, continue drive to the direction of Jayapura. Overnight at Sentani Indah hotel with dinner.
DAY 15. JAYAPURA – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast, free program until transfer to the airport for fly to next destinations..
PRICE: USD 5,755/Pax Minimum 2 Persons and Maximum 6 Persons - Private trip/groups of your friends or family
Included:
• Airfare Jayapura – Wamena – Jayapura (VV)
• Charter flight Wamena – Yaniruma – Wamena (VV)
• All land transportations
• Accommodation 2 Nights Baliem Pilamo hotel based on twin share room in Wamena
• Accommodation 1 Night at Sentani Indah hotel based on twin share room in Jayapura
• All accommodation in the villages
• English speaking guide
• Traveling permit arrangement
• Donation / Entrance fee
• All activities mentioned on the above program
Excluded:
• Domestic airfare Jakarta/Bali - Jayapura via Ujung Pandang Sulawesi.
• Travel insurance, extra baggage charge
• Personal expenses such as phone call, laundry, beverages etc.
• All expenses incurred due to the flight cancellation or due other causes beyond our control.
Note: Baliem Valley Festvial 2010 in Jayawijaya Regency, Annual Baliem Valley Festival will be held on Monday morning 9th of August 2010 until 12th of August 2010.
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